Automatic catcher.



No. 763,192. PATENTEVD JUNE 21,1904,

A. J. MASKREY.

AUTOMATIC GATGHER.

A PPLIOATION FILED OCT. so, 1902.

' no MODEL. nuns-4112M 1.,

PATENTED JUNE 21, 1904.

A. J. MASKREY.

AUTOMATIC GATGHER.

APPLICATION FILED 001.30,l 902 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

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No. 763,192. PATENTED JUN-E 21, 1904- A. J. MASKREY. AUTOMATIC GATCHER.

I APPLICATION FILED 00T.30.1902.

N0 MODEL 7 4 SHEETS-SHBET 4.

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Patented June 21, 1904.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR JAMES MASKREY, OF MARTINS FERRY, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC CATCHER.

SPECIFICAT IOiN forming part of Letters Pa 7 63,192, dated June 21,1904.

Application filed October 30,1902. Serial No. 129,391. (Nom od eh) Toall whom, it may concern: I

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J AMES MASK- REY, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, and a resident of Martins Ferry, county of Belmont, andState of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomatic Catchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvementsin catchers for metal plates, andmore particularly to an automatic machine for grasping metal plates asthey rise from the rolls of a tinning-pot in the tinning or othermetalcoating process and for carrying said sheets back and deliveringthem to a feeder for branners, which feeder for branners is fully shownand described in my application for patent therefor, said applicationbeing filed simultaneously herewith.

The object of. my invention is to provide an automatic catcher for metalplates which is applicable to any style of tinning-pot now in generaluse, the same being comparatively simple in its construction,comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and operate, and purelyautomatic in its operation, being set in operation by the metal plate asit rises from the pot, and consequently remaining at rest when no sheetsof metal are being fed through the pot.

I/Vith these and otherobjects in view my invention finally consists inthe particular construction, arrangement, and combinations of parts,which will hereinafter be fully described, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which--Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention complete. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the main arm. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same.Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the tongs. Fig. 5 is a similar view of aportion of the same, showing a slight modification in the construction.Fig. 6 is a side view of the contact-plates-on the main arm. Fig. 7 isatop plan=viewof the same. Fig. 8 is an outer end view of the clutch.Fig. 9 is a cross-section of the same. Fig. 10 is a side elevation ofthe front arm-rest and of the front circuitbreaker. Fig. 11 is a sideelevation of the pawl. Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 13is a side elevation of the supportingstand, showing the rearcircuit-breaker and stops, as well as the front circuit-breaker andarm-rest. Fig. 14 is a rear view of the same. Fig. 15 is a perspectiveview of one "section of the ratchet-casing, showing the outer facethereof. Fig. 16 is a similar view of the other section of theratchet-casing, showing the inner face thereof. Fig. 16 is a perspectiveView of one section of the ratchet-casing, showing the pawl and ratchet.Fig. 17 is a cross-section of the mechanism on the shaft, and Fig. 18 isa top plan view of the same.

Referring to the drawings. in which like reference-numerals designatelike parts throughout the several views, 1 indicates a revolving shaftextending longitudinally of the tinningpot at one end thereof andsuitably journaled in supports 2, said shaft being driven by chainconnecting the fixed wheel 3 with the motive power. Loosely mounted onsaid shaft 1 is a casing 1, composed of two sections 5 and 6, whichinclosc a ratchet 7 keyed on the shaft. Bolted to said casing in thechannel 8 of the lug 9 is one end of an arm 10, which normally extendsforward to apoint directly over the point of contact ofv the rolls 11 inthe pot 12.

From the rear portion of the casing 1 is suspended in any suitablemanner a weight 13, adapted to partially equalize vthe weight of themain arm 10, and consequently reduce the strain and vibration on thevarious parts when the said arm returns to a horizontal position.

Pivoted in an offset 1 1 in the casing 4 is a pawl 15, the point 16 ofwhich is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet 7. The rear end 17of the pawl 15 extends over the arm 10, and the front end 18 thereofextends rearwardly beyond the casing 4 and is weighted, so as tocounterbalance the rear end 17 and to normally hold the point 16 inengagement with the ratchet.

Adjustably secured on the extreme front end of the main arm 10, over'the rolls.11,-is an arm 19, which extends at right angles to the mainarm 10. Loosely mounted or pivoted on the point of the arm 19, the pointof said arm passing through the opening 20, is the sheet-graspingmechanism or tongs, the

construction of which is substantially as follows: The opening 20, abovementioned, extends through a substantially L-shaped rod 21, which haspivoted thereto at its rear end a bar 22. Secured on the rear face ofthe lower end of the L-shaped rod 21 is an electromagnet 23, on the faceof which is secured a collar 24, having a downwardly-extending guiderodand also an upwardly-extending guide 26. Secured to the lower end of thebar 22 at a point directly opposite the magnet 23 is a metal block 27,preferably of wrought-iron, which has secured thereto a collar 28,having adownwardly-extending guide-rod 29, similar to the rod 25.Secured to the rod 21 in a suitable position above the magnet 23 andinsulated from the rod 21 is a small bar 30, which extends rearwardlyfrom said rod 21. Also pivotally secured to the rod 21 at a pointdirectly above the bar is a small bar 31, the point of which extendsrearwardly to the bar 22, in the recess 32 of which said point isadapt-- ed to normally lie. On the bar 31 and insulated therefrom isprovided a contact-plate 33,

adapted to normally lie in contact with a plate 34 on the bar 30. Theobject of the tongs, consisting of the mechanism just described, willpresently be shown.

Secured to the side of the main arm 10 at a point near its connectionwith the ratchet-casing 4 is a plate 35. To each end of said plate issecured one end of a flexible contact-plate, said contact-plates 36 and37 having their respective free ends or points normally resting againstthe opposite sides of a small projection 38. The said contact-plates areconnected by wires 39 and 40, respectively, with a main electric batteryor dynamo and also by wires 41 and 42 with the electromagnet 23.Suitably mounted on the lug 9 of the casing is an electromagnet 43,which is connected by wires 44 and 45 with the main battery or dynamoand also by wires 46 and 47 with the bar 30 and the contact-plate 33,respectively. The object of the above-described wiring connections willbe presently shown.

A friction-clutch 48 is loosely mounted on the shaft 1 and the hub 49 ofsection 5 of the casing 4 and is adapted to operate against the outerface of said casing. Referring to Figs. 8, 9, 17, and 18, 50 is theclutch proper, the same being cored out at intervals, forming holes 51,in each of which is located a spring 52. A circular plate 53 is fittedin said clutch proper over the holes 51, against which the springs 52rest. In the inner end of each hole is provided a plate or disk 54,against which the inner end of the spring rests, and extending into eachhole from the outer face of the clutch proper are adjusting-screws 55,adapted to be manipulated to adjust the tension of the springs againstthe disk 53, and thus regulate the pressure against the face of thecasing 4. The friction-clutch is connected by belt (shown in dottedlines in Fig. 1) with a belt-wheelv 56, provided on a shaft 57. Saidshaft 57 is journaled in bearings 58, provided in the lower part of thesupports 2, and is driven from the shaft 1 by a twisted belt 59,connecting fixed belt-wheels 60, provided on the respective shafts. Asis obvious, the shaft 1 being driven backward the clutch is drivenforward, or in the opposite direction from that taken by the shaft. Tofacilitate the movement of the clutch and the casing on the shaft 1,ball-bearing collars 61 are provided thereagainst, which collars areheld in place by fixed collars 62.

The contact-plates 36 and 37 are made of thin flexible metal, so thatthe points thereof may be readily pushed out of engagement or contactwith the projection 38 to break an electriccircuit passing through themand so that when the cause of deflection is removed their points willspring back into contact with said projection, renewing the circuit.

All the connecting-wires are extended along the arms to an axial point,so that they will in no way interfere with the movement of said arms orwith the operation of any of the parts. However, for the sake ofclearness they are not so shown in the illustrations. The main arm 10normally lies in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, in which it isshown resting on the adjustable arm-rest 63.

64 represents an upright tubular projection or post in which isadjustably mounted a nonconducting pencil, said post and pencil forminga circuit-breaker 66, which when the arm 10 lies at rest holds thecontact-plate 36 in a raised position, arresting the electric circuit tothe electromagnet 23.

The operationof my invention is substantially as follows: When ashcet ofmetal rises between the rolls 11 in the pot 12, it is guided by theguides 25 and 29 through the passage 67 between the electromagnet 23 andthe metal block 27. As the sheet rises the upper edge thereof strikesthe point of the bar 31 and forces the same upward, breaking the contactbetweenthe contact-plate 33 and the bar 30, and consequently breakingthe circuit through the electromagnet 43. Immediately upon the breakingof said circuit the rear end 17 of the pawl, which has been held bymagnetic attraction in engagement with the said electromagnet, holdingthe point 16 out of engagement with the ratchet, is released, allowingthe said point to drop into engagement with the ratchet. The ratchet,being fixed to the shaft 1 and turning backward therewith, then carriesthe arm 10 upward and over therewith. When the arm 10 begins to risefrom the cireuit-breaker 66, the contact-plate 36, which has therebybeen held out of contact with the projection 38, is permitted to springback into engagement, renewing the circuit to the electromagnet 23.Immediately the sheet of metal is securely grasped between the collars24 and 28, the said block 27 being drawn by magnetic attraction againstthe sheet on the side opposite the magnet, so as to grip it. Thewrought-iron block 27 furnishes a sufficient body of metal to cause thesheet to be tightly grasped. \Vhen the arm 10, carrying the metal sheet,reaches the delivery-point, the contactplate 37 is struck by the pointof an adjustable circuit-breaker 68, suitably located, and is sprungaway from the projection 38, breaking the circuit through the magnet 23and releasing the sheet. Immediately upon the release of the sheet thepivoted bar 31, carrying the contact-plate 33, which has been held in araised position by the sheet, drops back to its normal position,renewing the circuit through the magnet 43. At the same time that thesheet is released, as above described, the front end 18 of the pawlstrikes upon the adjustable stop 69. The impact of the said front end ofthe pawl against said stop withdraws the point 16 from engagement withthe ratchet; The circuit through the magnet 43 having been renewed whenthe sheet was released, the rear end 17 of the pawl is now held bymagnetic attraction in contact with said magnet 43, and consequently thepoint 16 is held out of engagement with the ratchet. The frictiongenerated against the casing 42 by the clutch, which has preferably awasher, of leather or other suitable material, between the disk 53 andthe casing, is sufficient to return the said casing and the arm 10 tothe normal position thereofthat is, in position for a repetition of theoperation just described. As is obvious, when the arm 10 returns to itsnormal position the circuit through the magnet 23 is broken, the pointof the contact-plate 36 being thrust upward out of contact with theprojection 38 by the circuit-breaker 66..

The circuit-breaker 68 is provided with a tip formed of a non-conductingmaterial.

The arm 10 is composed of two sections hinged together at 72, the jointformed at the point 7 2 being what is known as a knucklejoint. (Clearlyillustrated in Figs. 1,2,and 3.) As a support for the front section ofthe main arm an angular arm 73 is provided on the rear section thereof,to the point of which are secured the ends of springs 74, having theirlower ends secured to said front section. As is apparent, the object ofthis construction of the main arm is to eliminate to a great extent thevibration which is consequential to the dropping of said arm to itsnormal position on the arm 63.

The machine just described is adapted for use with a single tinningpot.It is obvious, however, that another machine of the same constructionmay be located in a suitable position on the same shaft 1, thus adaptingthe device to a jumbo pot. Furthermore, when it is desired to use themachine with a double pot-a pot havinga double set of rolls therein--theshaft 1 has but to be placed at the side of the pot instead of at theend, so that the arm 10 lies in line with the rolls, and two machinesplaced side by side on said shaft, the

having a longitudinal opening therethrough,

through which opening the rear end of the arm 19 is projected instead ofthrough the opening 20, as shown in Fig. 4c. As is obvious, this latterconstruction may be used with the single potthat is, the arm may belocated at the side of the pot and lie in line with the rolls. With thejumbo pot, however, this latter construction is not used.

The contact-plates 36 and 37, as is apparent, may be formed of stiffmaterial, with a spring or like device attached for causing them toremain normally in contact.

The framework or members forming the tongs are preferably made of brass,since this material will not retain residual or remanent magnetism tosuch an extent as iron and steel.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, -is

1. In an automatic catcher, a driving-shaft, a fixed ratchet on saidshaft, a loose casing on said shaft about said ratchet, a pawl mountedon said casing and adapted for engaging said ratchet, electricalconnections whereby the pawl is normally held out of engagement withsaid ratchet, a main arm attached to said casing, sheetgrasping tongsmounted on said arm, electrical connections mounted on said arm andtongs for causing said tongs to grasp a metal sheet, means for releasingthe pawl to cause it to engage the ratchet at the proper time, and meanswhereby the electrical circuits passing through the tongs are broken torelease thesheet at the proper time, all substantially as specified.

2. An automatic catcher for tinning-pots, comprising a driving-shaftsuitably mounted and located with relation to the pot, a ratchet fixedto said shaft, a casing loosely mounted on said shaft about saidratchet, a main arm secured to said casing and normally resting with itspoint over or: alongside the rolls in the pot, an arm secured to thepoint of the main arm, tongs pivoted on the end of said arm at a pointdirectly over the point of contact of the rolls, electrical connectionsand magnets whereby when a sheet of metal rises between the jaws of thetongs it is seized thereby and the main arm is caused to turn with thedriving-shaft, means whereby when the sheet-delivery position is reachedthe sheet is released and is permitted to drop, means whereby the mainarm is released from turning with the shaft,afriction-clutch loosely ITOdeL

mounted on said shaft and suitably driven, whereby the said arm isreturned to its normal position, substantially as specified.

3. An automatic catcher for metal plates, comprising a main shaftsuitably driven, a ratchet fixed on said shaft and revolving therewith,a casing loosely mounted on said shaft about said ratchet, a pawl forengaging said ratchet suitably mounted in said casing, an electromagnetmounted on the casing under the rear end of said pawl and normallyholding said pawl out of engagement with the ratchet, a main arm securedto said casing, plate-grasping tongs mounted on said arm, electricalcontact-plates on said tongs, wires connecting said contact-plates withsaid magnet, said contact-plates adapted to be forced apart by a metalplate rising between the jaws of the tongs to break the electric circuitthrough them to the said magnet, releasing the pawl so that it engagesthe ratchet and carries the arms and tongs therewith; an electromagneton the tongs, a metal block opposing said magnet, wires connecting saidmagnet with contact-plates provided on the main arm, a contact-breakerholding said contactplates out of engagement when said arm lies at restand permitting the circuit to be renewed through the contact-plates whenthe arm is raised therefrom, said circuit causing the plate to begrasped by the tongs, a circuitbreaker at the rear side of the shaft forcausing the plate to be released, a stop for withdrawing the pawl fromthe ratchet, and a clutch loosely mounted on the main shaft and turningforward thereon for returning the arm and tongs to their normalposition, substantially as set forth and described.

4:. In a machine of the character described, the combination with theupper rolls of a tinning-pot, of a sheet grasping and carrying machine,comprising a shaft having a fixed ratchet thereon, a main arm looselymounted on said shaft, a pawl attached to said arm and adapted forengagement with said ratchet, an electromagnet mounted on said arm injuxtaposition to the rear end of the pawl and normally holding said pawlout of engagement with the ratchet, tongs provided on said main arm,electrical connections between said tongs and said magnet whereby when asheet of metal rises from the rolls of the tinning-pot the pawl ispermitted to engage the ratchet, a magnet carried by said tongs,electrical connections between said magnet and said arm whereby whensaid arm begins to rise said sheet of metal is firmly grasped by thetongs, means whereby when the sheet-delivery position is reached thesheet of metal is caused to be released, means whereby when thesheetdelivcry position is reached the pawl is thrown out of engagementwith the ratchet, and means whereby the main arm, carrying the tongs, isreturned to its normal position, substantially as described.

5. In a plate-catching machine, a main arm composed of two sectionshinged together, an angular arm on the rear section extending over thefront section, a spring having one end secured to the point of saidangular arm and the other to the front section of the main arm,supporting said front section, substantially as described.

6. In a machine of the character described, supports suitably locatedwith reference to the tinning-pot, amain shaft mounted on said supports,a ratchet fixed on said shaft, a casing loosely mounted on said shaftabout said ratchet, an extension on said casing, a pawl pivoted on saidcasing for engaging the ratchet, an electromagnet on said extensiondirectly underneath the rear end of the pawl and adapted to normallyhold said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet, a main arm securedto said extension, tongs pivoted on the point of said arm; said tongsconsisting of two pivoted members, an electromagnet on one member and ametal block on the other member, said magnet and block lying injuxtaposition, and sheet-guiding arms provided on each of the twomembers; a fixed bar and a movable bar on on e of said members,contactplates on each of said bars normally lying in contact completingan electric circuit through conducting-wires connecting them with thefirst-mentioned magnet, contact-plates on the main arm, conducting-wiresconnecting the last-mentioned contact-plates with the magnet on thetongs, a circuit-breaker normally holding said contact-plates out ofengagement arresting the electric circuit to said magnet, means wherebywhen the main arm is raised said contact-plates are brought intoengagement completing the electric circuit, an adjustablecircuit-breaker at the rear of the main shaft whereby the last-mentionedcircuit is broken when the sheet-delivery position is reached, anadjustable stop at the rear of the main shaft whereby the pawl is forcedout of engagement with the ratchet when the said delivery position isreached, a friction-clutch mounted on said shaft against theratchet-casing, said clutch adapted for returning the main arm, carryingthe tongs, to its normal position, and driving mechanism for saidclutch, substantially as described.

7. In a machine of the character described, a main shaft suitablymounted and driven, a fixed ratchet on said shaft, a ratchet-casingloosely mounted on said shaft about said ratchet, an extension on saidcasing, an electromagnet mounted on said extension, a pawl pivoted inthe top of said casing, the point of said pawl adapted for engagementwith said ratchet, the rear end of said pawl normally held in engagementwith said magnet, a main arm secured'to the extension of the casing, asmall arm adjustably secured to the point of said main arm, an L-shapedrod pivoted on said small arm, an electromagnet on said rod, a

bar 22 pivoted to said rod, a metal block on said bar opposite theelectromagnet on the rod, said magnet and block lying in juxtaposition,a fixed bar and a pivoted bar carried by the L-shaped rod, an electricalcontactplate provided on each of said bars, Wiring connections betweensaid contact-plates and the magnet on the extension of the casing; saidcontact-plates adapted to be separated by a sheet of metal risingbetween the tongs and forcing the pivoted bar upward to break theelectric circuit through the magnet on the eX- tension of the casing,releasing the pawl so that it will engage the ratchet and carry the mainarm, bearing the tongs, over therewith; contact-plates on the main arm,wiring connections between the last-mentioned contactplates and themagnet on the L-shaped rod, a circuit-breaker holding the saidcontactplates out of engagement when the main arm lies at rest thusarresting the electric circuit to the last-mentioned magnet; anadjustable stop whereby the pawl is forced out of engagement with theratchet, an adjustable circuitbrcaker at the rear of the main shaftwhereby when the sheet-delivery position is reached, the circuit throughthe last-mentioned magnet is broken to release the sheet held by thetongs, and a friction-clutch loosely mounted on the shaft in contactwith the ratchet-easing and driven forward on said shaft, whereby thecasing carrying the main arm is returned to its normal position,substantially as set forth and described.

8. In aplate-catehing machine, the combination with a plate-graspingmechanism, of a clutch for returning said plate-grasping mechanism toits normal position, said clutch comprising a clutch proper looselymounted on the main shaft and provided with holes 51 therein, a circulardisk fitted in said clutch proper over said holes, an adjusting-screwfor regulating the tension of said springs provided in each of saidholes, and a washer provided against the face of the disk, substantiallyas and for the purposes set forth and described.

9. In a plate-catching machine, the combination with a main shaft,ratchet, ratchet-casing, and carrying-arm, of sheet-grasping tongsmounted on said arm, said tongs consisting of two pivoted memberssuitably suspended over the rolls of a tinning-pot, a metal blockmounted on one member and an electromagnet mounted on the other member,the respective faces of said block and magnet lying adjacent to eachother; wiring connections between the said magnet and contact-platesprovided on the main arm, or carrying-arm, whereby when said plates liein contact an electric circuit passes to the magnet; contact-platesprovided on said tongs, and adapted to be separated by a metal platerising between the forks of the tongs to break an electric circuitpassing therethrough to an electromagnet on the ratchet-casing, allsubstantially as and for the purposes set forth and described.

Signed by me at Wheeling, West Virginia, this th day of October, 1902.

ARTHUR JAMES MASKREY.

l/Vitnesses:

H. E. DUNLAP, JOHN A. BROWN.

